White Sox Exec VP Ken Williams yesterday explained his request that 1B Adam LaRoche "dial it back" in regards to having his 14-year-old son, Drake, around the team's clubhouse, a request that "ultimately led to LaRoche deciding to retire from baseball," according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Williams said, "Sometimes you've got to make some unpopular decisions, and sometimes they center around things that you don't necessarily want to but in order to maintain consistency, in order to have an answer for the next person that comes along that wants to have his child on the field 100 percent of the time ... even 50 percent is probably too much.’" Williams said that White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf "backed him on this." Williams: "He's of the same mind-set. His comment was 'we owe it to the fans at this point to put a team on the field that they can hope and dream about. Because we haven't done that." Van Schouwen notes the irony of Williams' request is that the White Sox "have a history of being open to a family atmosphere in the clubhouse" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/17). Williams added, "I don't want this to turn into something that makes Drake feel badly. He is such a good kid and so loved around here. But the kid is there every day. In the clubhouse. And on the field. During drills. Everywhere. ... I reiterated to (LaRoche) and the team that there is no change. Kids are still welcome in the dining room, and if you got them, bring them. Just not every day" (USA TODAY, 3/17). More Williams: "We've been very flexible over the years. Nothing has changed with regards to our allowance of kids. On the field, if they are old enough to go out and shag, I think it's great. There has to be some limitation" (MLB.com, 3/16).
DRAWING A LINE: In Chicago, Colleen Kane in a front-page piece reports Williams "spoke with LaRoche first about the issue a week ago and again Sunday." He said that LaRoche "did not try to negotiate the issue." Williams noted that the decision "wasn't because LaRoche's son was a distraction in the clubhouse," adding that player complaints about it "being one weren't 'really prevalent.'" But he said that he "needed to draw the line somewhere." He noted that MLBers "in a private environment can be both good and bad influences on children." Kane notes Drake was "with the team for many games and much of this spring, shagging balls during batting practice and chatting up players during downtime" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/17). Williams said that when LaRoche signed his two-year contract prior to the '15 season, there was no clause that said his son "could be in the clubhouse every day" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 3/17). However, ESPN CHICAGO's Doug Padilla cited sources as saying that LaRoche after signing with the team asked if Drake "could have clubhouse access, and that request was granted by White Sox manager Robin Ventura." At no point did Drake "appear to be a distraction last season, and was in fact a welcome addition to the group." Padilla: "In the defense of the front office, unlimited clubhouse for a family member is unprecedented" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 3/16).
SOX WELL WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes the White Sox have "every right to impose rules in their workplace and in this case limit visitations by the children of employees." With a child "in the clubhouse, not every White Sox player was comfortable" (USA TODAY, 3/17). CSNChicago.com's Dan Hayes said, "This is a Major League clubhouse and maybe not everyone wants to be on their G-, PG-rated sides at all times. That’s the only thing I can figure that’s changed in this because there was no reason last year, based off what we saw, for this to be an issue.” He added, "This is more about setting precedent for the future. … They’re trying to eliminate potential distractions” ("The Dan Patrick Show," 3/17). In Chicago, Scot Gregor writes in 20-plus years of covering the White Sox, he "never saw any players' child with his own uniform and locker." Gregor: "I never saw any players' child in the clubhouse on a daily basis. Anyway you look at it, it's hard to fault Williams and the White Sox on this one" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 3/17). ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said the White Sox "made what is not just reasonable, it ought to be a mandatory request." Wilbon: "No kids. Nobody’s kid needs to be in a professional locker room every day! It never should have happened in the first place" ("PTI," ESPN, 3/16). In Chicago, Rick Morrissey writes Williams' request "might stem from" clashes with former manager Ozzie Guillen "over the antics of Guillen's son, Oney, who was critical of Williams on social media." Morrissey: "Separation of church and state became that much more important." Drake LaRoche "seems as respectful as can be," but a baseball clubhouse "is no place for a kid." Morrissey: "His dad should know that" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/17).
TOUGH SITUATION: ABC's T.J. Holmes notes players often "bring their kids to the locker rooms, the clubhouse, but every day, this was much." Holmes: "The guys have to change their behavior in that workplace if a kid’s there” (“GMA,” ABC, 3/17). NBC’s Matt Lauer said, “This is a 14-year-old boy, and we all know that players in locker rooms like a certain atmosphere. I don’t think they want to be worried constantly about what they do or say. I think it’s crossed a line.” NBC’s Savannah Guthrie: “It’s a case where no one is wrong. I think the White Sox as an organization have a right to say, ‘You know what, it’s too much.’ He has the right to walk away if that means, ‘Hey, I would rather spend time with my kid’” (“Today,” NBC, 3/17). ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, "It doesn’t make you family-unfriendly. … If everyone brought their kids in all the time, no one would ever get anything done” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN, 3/16). MLB Network's Kevin Millar: “When your kid’s around, it is hard for you to have all your attention on the game, on the starting pitcher, on the job that is at hand right there." He added, "I understand both sides. There’s no right or wrong, and this is a tough scene because you’re dealing with a child and a daddy” (“Intentional Talk,” MLB Network, 3/16). ESPN's Scott Van Pelt: "I admire the love and commitment LaRoche has for his son. But here is thing: this is the one time in 10. I think the White Sox are right. We have a kid's day here at ESPN. ... It’s great for them to see where we work. But it’s a day” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/17).
SITUATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES? FOXSPORTS.com's Ken Rosenthal wonders if Williams would "have raised the issue" if LaRoche was "coming off a big offensive season" instead of one in which he batted .207 and hit just 12 home runs. Rosenthal: "Why did Williams raise the issue in the middle of an upbeat camp, with the Sox preparing to compete in the hotly contested AL Central, rather than establish a new policy before the players even arrived in Arizona?" (FOXSPORTS.com, 3/16). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "If he was hitting .300 with 30 homers, he could not only bring his son, he could bring his son’s five best friends in there every single day” ("PTI," ESPN, 3/16). In Chicago, Mike Imrem writes only the "wacky White Sox could find themselves embroiled in a controversy like this." Imrem: "Every time you want to believe in this organization, something makes you apprehensive" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 3/17). But the CHICAGO TRIBUNE's David Haugh writes fans should not "blame the Sox for doing what any professional employer has the right to do, to create a work environment conducive for everyone." If LaRoche was "looking for a reason to leave," the White Sox "supplied him one." Haugh: "Blame a back that isn't working, a heart that isn't in it anymore or a swing that isn't as scary as it once was" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/17).
TWITTER REAX: ESPN Radio's Ryen Russillo wrote, "This LaRoche story is crazy. Something doesn't add up.Also don't think it's terrible for team to ask to dial it back."CBS Sports Radio's Brandon Tierney: "Admire LaRoche's desire to engage his son as often as he does, but professional parameters must apply. Not right."
Bleacher Report's Scott Miller: "Tough situation w/#WhiteSox - LaRoche 1 of most well-liked players in game. But Sox right to ask his son not be in clubhouse 100% of time." FS1 analyst and former MLBer C.J. Nitkowski: "That's a fair take from Williams. Can't criticize him for that, reasonable request." ESPN Radio 97.9 Hartford host Rob Dibble: "Ken Williams has 5 kids, it's not about kids, it's a workplace. Your team is also your family! This should never have become an issue." Sporting News' Jesse Spector: "If the White Sox thought LaRoche was going to be productive for them, they’d have figured out a solution. ESPN's Mike Wise: "Can't take Kenny Williams 'policing' of teenagers in the clubhouse seriously. Same GM okay w/ nude, blow-up dolls in the clubhouse in 2008."
OTHER TEAMS' POLICIES: In N.Y., Anthony McCarron notes the Mets have "no set policy about family in the locker room, but ask that players limit it to after wins." There is also "no policy for spring training." The Yankees' policy is a "little more regimented." Yankees manager Joe Girardi: "They can be there until we start our work. Once we go to work, we go to work and the kids are usually gone." Players can "bring their kids in early to play on the field, but they are gone when batting practice starts" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/17).
